Female DJs Call Out Misogyny And Harassment Behind The Decks

Female DJs are speaking out against persistent harassment, intimidation, and disrespect behind the decks. In a report from BBC News - Entertainment & Arts, artists including Andrea Shearer, Anna McAteer, and Julie Dunne detailed how women working the nightlife circuit are routinely treated like interlopers rather than working professionals. Shearer highlighted the obvious double standard, noting that clubgoers treat women like guests in the booth while male peers receive automatic credibility. Online, it turns toxic fast; Shearer noted that a Belfast man harassed her on Facebook earlier this year, claiming she only landed gigs through sexual favors. The hostility spills directly into physical spaces. McAteer, a Belfast DJ who has played venues across Northern Ireland including AVA Festival, recalled patrons repeatedly entering the booth and touching her gear—including one man who walked up mid-set to rewind a deck, and another who was booted three times before sneaking back to dig through her USB drive. For Dunne, the aggression forced her away from bar gigs entirely after a man got in her face, screaming and swearing until she was in tears over an unavailable song request. Nightlife is supposed to be built on community, but women are out here paying an exhausting tax just trying to spin records in peace. Let people work.